Presidential hopeful cum recently-axed Macy's clothing "designer"/reality television star Donald Trump has been cordially invited to a huge San Francisco celebration that kicks off next week. But will the billionaire be interested in an event intended to showcase "the best performing arts, culture and ideas from Mexico"?
As you know because you have access to the internet, Trump made headlines earlier this month after releasing a three page, 881 word statement containing remarks like "tremendous infectious disease is pouring across the border. The United States has become a dumping ground for Mexico and, in fact, for many other parts of the world."
Trump turned his focus to San Francisco just a few days after that, when a man who'd been deported from the US to Mexico five times shot and killed Kate Steinle at Pier 14. In a statement, Trump said "This senseless and totally preventable act of violence committed by an illegal immigrant is yet another example of why we must secure our border immediately."
SF Mayor Ed Lee's office shot back at the real estate magnate swiftly, saying "A woman's life was tragically taken away, and right now Mayor Lee is focused on understanding the circumstances and facts around this tragedy and this man's release...Mr. Trump's opportunism and offensive anti-immigrant rhetoric have nothing to contribute to that effort."
However, Andrés Isaac Roemer Slomianski, Mexico's consul general in San Francisco, thinks his event, the MEX I AM festival, might have something to contribute to Trump.
No, not money — though, with a reported personal fortune of over $10 billion, it's not like Trump needs any more cash for his campaign. Roemer (who is also "a political analyst, attorney, economist, think tank founder, author of 16 books and two award-winning plays," per a 2014 report from the Chron) says that he believes attendance at the fest will turn Trump's perception of the Mexican people around.
According to the MEX I AM website, the fest will feature "some of the best performers from various genres and traditions, as well as presentations from some of the most influential Mexicans in their fields of expertise around the world."
Trump, Roemer told ABC7, is "more than invited" to the event, which runs from July 19-16.
(And hey, if Trump came, maybe he could finally contact Kate Steinle's family, too?)
While SFist's attempts to reach any Trump campaign spokespeople to see if Trump would accept the invite to the fest were unsuccessful, Roemer sounds so hopeful that we almost don't want to burst his bubble.
"We are just bringing a sample of creativity, bringing the best of Mexico which is its people, its flavors, its colors, all around the world," Roemer says.
"I would love that he comes."
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